{"formats":[{"name":"JSON","format":"json","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-json\/18.2-57.5.json"},{"name":"Plain Text","format":"text","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-text\/18.2-57.5.txt"},{"name":"XML","format":"xml","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-xml\/18.2-57.5.xml"},{"name":"HTML","format":"html","url":"\/downloads\/2026\/code-html\/18.2-57.5.html"}],"law_id":351122,"edition_id":2,"section_id":351122,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-57.5","catch_line":"Certain matters not to constitute defenses","history":"2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 460.","full_text":"A\n\nAnother person&#8217;s actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation is not in and of itself, or together with an oral solicitation, a defense to any charge brought under this article.\n\nB\n\nNothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a defendant from exercising his constitutionally protected rights, including his right to call for evidence in his favor that is relevant and otherwise admissible in a criminal prosecution.\n\n","order_by":null,"text":{"0":{"id":1307657,"text":"Another person&#8217;s actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, or sexual orientation is not in and of itself, or together with an oral solicitation, a defense to any charge brought under this article.","type":"section","prefixes":["A"],"prefix":"A","entire_prefix":"A","prefix_anchor":"A","level":1,"next_prefix":"B"},"1":{"id":1307658,"text":"Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a defendant from exercising his constitutionally protected rights, including his right to call for evidence in his favor that is relevant and otherwise admissible in a criminal prosecution.","type":"section","prefixes":["B"],"prefix":"B","entire_prefix":"B","prefix_anchor":"B","level":1,"prior_prefix":"A"}},"ancestry":[{"id":50217,"edition_id":2,"name":"Assaults and Bodily Woundings","identifier":"4","label":"article","depth":3,"order_by":6,"parent_id":50171,"metadata":{"child_laws":29,"child_structures":0},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:24:43","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:17","permalink":{"id":1391965,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50217,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/4\/4","url":"\/18.2\/4\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50171,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes Against the Person","identifier":"4","label":"chapter","depth":2,"order_by":4,"parent_id":50131,"metadata":{"child_laws":128,"child_structures":11},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:23:51","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:16","permalink":{"id":1391765,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50171,"identifier":"4","token":"18.2\/4","url":"\/18.2\/4\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}},{"id":50131,"edition_id":2,"name":"Crimes and Offenses Generally","identifier":"18.2","label":"title","depth":1,"order_by":52,"parent_id":null,"metadata":{"child_laws":960,"child_structures":94},"date_created":"2026-08-02 02:22:59","date_modified":"2026-08-02 12:30:15","permalink":{"id":1391141,"object_type":"structure","relational_id":50131,"identifier":"18.2","token":"18.2","url":"\/18.2\/","edition_id":2,"permalink":0,"preferred":1}}],"structure_contents":[{"id":351093,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-51","catch_line":"Shooting, stabbing, etc., with intent to maim, kill, etc","url":"\/18.2-51\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-51","metadata":false},{"id":351086,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-51.1","catch_line":"Malicious bodily injury to law-enforcement officers, firefighters, search and rescue personnel, or emergency medical services personnel; 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Commonwealth","case_number":"2427981","citation":"522 S.E.2d 382","date":"1999-12-21","url":"https:\/\/www.courtlistener.com\/opinion\/1066030\/floyd-v-commonwealth\/","abstract":" .\u202f.\u202f. 522 S.E.2d 382 (1999) .\u202f.\u202f. ","court_html":"<abbr title=\"Court of Appeals\">COA<\/abbr>"}}}},{"id":351107,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-53","catch_line":"Shooting, etc., in committing or attempting a felony","url":"\/18.2-53\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-53","metadata":false},{"id":351106,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-53.1","catch_line":"Use or display of firearm in committing felony","url":"\/18.2-53.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-53.1","metadata":false},{"id":351110,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-54","catch_line":"Conviction of lesser offenses under certain indictments","url":"\/18.2-54\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-54","metadata":false},{"id":351108,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-54.1","catch_line":"Attempts to poison","url":"\/18.2-54.1\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-54.1","metadata":false},{"id":351109,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-54.2","catch_line":"Adulteration of food, drink, drugs, cosmetics, etc.; penalty","url":"\/18.2-54.2\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-54.2","metadata":false},{"id":351112,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-55","catch_line":"Bodily injuries caused by prisoners, state juvenile probationers and state and local adult probationers or adult parolees","url":"\/18.2-55\/","token":"18.2\/4\/4\/18.2-55","metadata":false},{"id":351111,"structure_id":50217,"section_number":"18.2-55.1","catch_line":"Hazing of youth gang members unlawful; 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Another person&#8217;s actual or perceived sex, gender, gender identity, or\nsexual orientation is not in and of itself, or together with an oral\nsolicitation, a defense to any charge brought under this article.\n\nB. Nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent a defendant from\nexercising his constitutionally protected rights, including his right to call\nfor evidence in his favor that is relevant and otherwise admissible in a\ncriminal prosecution.\n\nHISTORY: 2021, Sp. Sess. I, c. 460.","edition":{"id":2,"name":"2026","slug":"2026","date_created":"2026-07-16 18:40:23","date_modified":"2026-08-02 15:14:36","current":1,"order_by":2,"last_import":"2026-08-02 12:37:30"}}